Device for stacking cases or the like



R. P. ALEXANDER 2,352,879

July 4, 1944.

I DEVICE FOR STACKING CASES OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 8, 1944 m F0 4/ J /8 28 ammo/who e Patented July 4, 1944 DEVICE FOR STACKING CASES-R THE LIKE Ralph P. Alexanden'slate'rts; C. Application January 8, 1944, Serial No. 517,614. 8-Claims. (01. 193-42) U My invention relates to a device for use in stacking cases, file sections or the like.

.An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character by means of which heavy cases or the like may be I stacked and unstacked with the minimum effort.

A further-object of the invention is to projvide a device of the above mentioned character which may be applied to the lower case and'will serve to guide and roll the next upper case into position, and which may be subsequently removed from between the superposed cases.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is adjustable for use with cases of different sizes. A further object of the invention is to provide adevice of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction and easy to operate.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the follow: ing description. l V

In'the accompanying drawing forming apart 'of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a. device embodying my invention, showing the same in use,

- Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the same, Figure 3' is a transverse section taken on line 3''-3 of Figure 1,

- Figure 3 is a prospective view of the device re moved, and, Figure 4 is a side elevation of a-modified form of the invention, parts broken away. Figure 4' is a section taken on line 4'"-4 of Figure 3. i In the drawing, wherein for the purpose'of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a prefrably rectangular frame, which is longitudinally and. transversely adjustable. This frame 'comprises sides, each of which includes side sections 6 and 1, arranged in contacting relation. The side section 6 is provided at its free end with'ai sleeve *8, slidably receiving the side section I, while the side section. 1 is provided at its free end with a sleeve 9, slidably receiving theside section 6. ceive 'a'pin'l I, for insertion'within selected openings l2. The frame further comprises ends, each of which includes end sections l4 and I5, arranged in contacting relation. The end section I4 is provided at its free end with a sleeve Hi, slidably receiving the end section I5, and the end section The-sleeve 8 has-an opening into ree- I5. is provided at its free end with asleeve l'l, slidably receiving the end section 14. .The sleeve It has a transverse opening l8, to receive a pin I8, for insertion within a selected opening l9, formed in. the end section I5. Preferably formed integral with the rear .ends of the side sections 6 are U-shaped corner frames 20, also preferably formed integral with the rear end sections l4 and i5. Each U-shaped corner frame or bracket includes sidesZl and 22, hav: ing upstanding knuckles 23. These knuckles are provided with openings to receive a transverse horizontal shaft 24, carrying rollers 25 and 26, as shown. Each side 22 is provided at its rear end with a depending end stop 21, and is provided forwardly of and spaced from the end stop 21 with a side stop 28. "Preferab1y formed integral with the forward ends of the side sections 1 are forward U-shaped corner frames or brackets 29, also preferably formed integral with the end sections [4 and I5.. Each U-shaped frame or bracket 29 includes sides 30, provided with upstanding knuckles 3|, having openings to receive a horizontal transverse shaft 32, carrying rollers 33 and 34. The sides 30 have depending knuckles 35, having openings to receive a'horizontal transverse shaft 38, carrying rollers 31 and 38. The rollers 31 and 38 extend below the knuckles 35, as shown; The numeral 39 designates heavy cases or file sections to be stacked. Each case may be pro-' vided at its top with longitudinal and transverse cleats or strips 40 and 4|, as shown. I

' Theoperation ofthe device is as follows:

' The, lowermost case 39 is placed in position and the device is arranged upon the top of the case, adjacent to its rear end. The rear corner frames or brackets 20 rest upon the longitudinal andtransverse'strips' or cleats 40 and 4|. The endstops 21 are disposed upon the rear outer side of the transverse strip 4I' and serve to hold the device from moving forwardly with respect to the lower casing. The side stops 28 are disposed upon the inner or forward side of the transverse'strip 4| and upon the inner sides of the longitudinal strips 40, and prevent the l at-. eral displacement of the device with respect to the lower casing 39. The rollers 31 rest upon the longitudinal strips 40. With the device thus arrangedgthe next case .39 is elevated and its forward end placed upon the rollers 25, which support the same, and the upper case is then rolled forwardly until its forward end passes over the upper rollers 33. The forward movement of the case is continued until its forward end is adjacent to the forward end of the lower case, at which time the forward end of the upper case may be lowered to rest upon the lower case, the parts then showing the position as indicated in Figure 1. The rear end of the device is now raised, to permit the side stops 28 to clear the transverse strip 4|, after which the device is moved rearwardly, the upper rollers 33 engaging the upper case and the lower rollers 31 engaging the lower case. The rear end of the uppercase is supported before the device is completely removed from beneath the same, after which the rear end of the upper case is lowered into engagement with the lower case, thus completing the stacking operation.

In Figure 4 I have shown a slight modification of the invention to be used with cases having flat tops without the longitudinal and. transverse strips 40 and 4|. The side stops 28 are omitted and the sides 2| and 22 of the rear corner frames or brackets are provided at their lower edges with teeth or serrations 42 to engage with the top of the lower case to hold the device against lateral displacement. All other parts of the device are identical with those shown and described in connection with the first form of the invention.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device for stacking cases or the like having longitudinal and transverse strips at their tops, comprising a frame to be arranged upon the top of the lower case, end stops secured to the frame near its rear end and positioned upon the rear side of the adjacent transverse strip, side stops secured to the frame near its rear end and to be positioned upon the inner sides of the longitudinal strips, roller means mounted upon the frame near its rear end for supporting the next upper case, roller means mounted upon the frame near its forward end for supporting the next upper case, and roller means mounted upon the frame near its forward end to travel upon the lower case.

2. A device for stacking cases or the like having longitudinal and transverse strips at their jtOIJS, comprising a frame to be arranged upon the top of the lower case, means carried by the frame to engage the rear transverse strip to prevent the forward movement of the frame with respect to the lower case, means carried by the frame to engage the longitudinal strips to prevent the lateral movement of the frame with respect to the case, roller means mounted upon the frame near its rear end to support the next upper case, roller means mounted upon the frame near its forward end to support the next upper case, and roller means mounted upon the frame near its forward end. to travel upon the lower case.

3. A device for stacking cases or the like, comprising a frame to be arranged upon. the top of the lower case, means to prevent the movement of the frame with relation to the lower case, said means including a device carried by the frame and arranged to engage the lower case,'rear upper roller means mounted upon the frame to support the next upper case, forward upper roller means mounted upon the frame to support the next upper case, and forward lower roller means mounted upon the frame to travel upon the lower case.

4. A device for stacking cases or the like, com

prising a substantially rectangular frame, means I to adjust the frame longitudinally and transversely, a transverse pair of rear rollers mounted upon the frame adjacent to its rear corners for supporting the next upper case, a transverse pair of forwardrollers mounted upon the frame adjacent to its forward corners for supporting the'next upper case, and a transverse pair of rollers mounted upon the frame adjacent to its forward corners for traveling upon the lower case.

5. A device for stacking cases or the like,'comprising a supporting unit to be arrange'd'upon the top of the lower case, means carried by the supporting unit to engage the lower case to prevent the supporting unit from being shifted longitudinally with respect to the lower case, rear upper roller means mounted upon the supporting unit to support the next upper case, forward upper roller means mounted upon the supporting support the next upper case, and forward lower i Y roller means mounted upon the supporting unit to travel upon the lower case.

7. A device for stacking cases or the like, com-- prising a substantially rectangular frame, said frame comprising longitudinally adjustable sides and longitudinally adjustable ends and individ ual frames at the corners of the first-named frame, the individual frames being secured to the sides and the ends, a transverse pair of rear upper rollers mounted upon the rear individual frames, a transverse pair of forward upper rollers mounted upon the forward individual frames, and-a transverse pair of lower forwardrollers mounted upon the forward individual frames.

8. A device for stacking cases or the like,-com-.' prising a substantiallyrectangular frame, said frame comprising sides and ends and individual frames at the corners of the first named frame, a transverse pair of rear upper rollers mounted upon the rear individual frames, a transverse pair of forward upper rollers mounted upon the forward individual frames, and a transverse'pair of lower forward rollers mounted upon the for ward individual frames.

RALPH P. ALEXANDER. 

